#ALTERNATIVE ENERGY SOURCES COME FROM RENEWABLE PROCESSES. HOW TO#
It is important to note that while the World Bank considers nuclear energy an alternative energy source, not all energy policy experts agree on how to categorize nuclear energy. Put simply, renewable energies are those generated from sources that do not have a finite end, or those that can be recycled (1), typically from natural sources - like solar power, wind power and water power. Alternative energy here includes hydroelectric energy, solar energy, geothermal energy, wind energy, nuclear energy, and biomass energy.
This map shows the average percentage of a country’s total energy use that came from alternative sources between the years 2006-2010. Most green energy sources, such as wind and solar, are also renewable. Learn more about renewable energy using the MapMaker Interactive here. Green energy refers to energy resources that provide the greatest environmental benefit.
Nuclear power, however, is alternative but not renewable, since it uses uranium, a finite resource. Solar power, for example, is both renewable and alternative because it will always be abundant and it emits no greenhouse gases. Alternative energy, however, should not be confused with renewable energy, although many renewable energy sources can also be considered alternative. These fossil fuels emit high levels of CO2 when burned to produce energy and electricity. These energy sources are referred to as “alternative” because they represent the alternative to coal, oil, and natural gas, which have been the most common sources of energy since the Industrial Revolution.
You can explore CO2 emissions using the MapMaker Interactive here. This means that energy produced from alternative sources does not contribute to the greenhouse effect that causes climate change. Alternative energy is energy that does not come from fossil fuels, and thus produces little to no greenhouse gases like carbon dioxide (CO2).
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